Atlantic Security Conference

Central Asia does not often grab headlines worldwide. Despite lacking this widespread recognition, a flurry of activity has been seen happening in Central Asia in 2018 alone. With Chinese APTs, Russian security service involvement and cybercrime all active in the region, the further investment in China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative is likely to spur further activity.

Past incidents have ranged from cyber espionage conducted against state entities to domestic surveillance of local opposition groups and financially motivated cybercrime, with a wide array of motives and using a multitude of tools to carry out their operations.

The talk aims to highlight the importance of understanding attacks against countries that are geopolitically important but unknown.

As a region, Central Asia is quite significant to Canada having seen substantial direct investment into multiple sectors, while the countries that make up the region having fallen victim to multiple state-sponsored cyberattacks, cybercrime and digital surveillance. The region holds a great deal of potential and the level of investment reflects this, but as investment comes, so to do the risks.